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Construction of Cairo as the Fatimid Capital

Type Event Region North Africa Time 969–1013

After conquering Egypt in 969, the Fatimid Caliphate continuously built palaces, mosques, and fortifications in Cairo (al-Qāhira).…

Timeline

  1. 969–990Cairo · CairoAfter Fatimid general Jawhar conquered Egypt, he built the new city of Cairo north of Fustat. During al-Aziz's reign, the al-Azhar Mosque (972) and the palace district were constructed, establishing the city as a Shiite religious and political center.
  2. 1005–1013Cairo · CairoCaliph al-Hakim continued capital construction, completing the al-Hakim Mosque (finished around 1013), expanding the city walls and gates, and building the House of Wisdom to gather scholars, strengthening Cairo's role as the political and cultural core of the Fatimid Empire.

Sources